PIM Impact Pathway and Theory of Change

An abridged version of PIM’s theory of change is displayed in the graphic below. PIM’s research priorities are informed by a set of core constraints related to policies, institutions, and markets. The program is targeted to addressing these constraints and has influence through four main channels: global agenda setting, national policy support, program and market innovations, and longer term capacity development. Influence, and the resulting outcomes and impacts, are not guaranteed because research is but one input into policy decision making. By undertaking diagnostic studies of constraints and opportunities in policy processes, researchers can increase likelihood of success (central spiral and list of risks). The right hand side columns describe the major program level outcomes that PIM seeks to achieve in response to the core constraints in the first column. All CGIAR research programs are asked to show how they contribute to any of the 10 system level outcome (SLO) targets of CGIAR (see more about CGIAR strategy here) and the final column shows the four primary and direct target outcomes s to which PIM contributes.